Analysing a Music Magazine Cover

 What is the title of the magazine? Why do you think it has been given that title?

 Who do you think is the target audience for the magazine? What particular age,
group/gender? What might their interests be?

 Look at the central image:

o What shot has been used and why?

o What mode of address is the artist using? What does this tell you about the
type of relationship it wants with its reader?

o Who is on the front cover and why?

o What does the anchorage text say? What does this imply about the artist??

o What overall message is the artist giving, consider what they are wearing and
facial expression?

o Are any groups being represented e.g. punks, Goths, ravers? How does the
magazine represent them?

 Are there any ‘buzz’ words? What effect does it have on the reader?

 What does design of the title block tell you about the magazine

 What ‘cover lines’ are used and how would they appeal to the audience?

 Is there a slogan/strapline? What does it tell you about the magazine? How does it
help to attract readers?

 What colours are used and why?

 Describe the fonts (if you don’t know them), what do they say about the magazine?

 Can you tell from the cover what music genre/s the magazine is about? Give examples
to support your answer
 Magazine Cover Analysis

The Title of this magazine is Billboard. I

think this title was used because a
billboard is used to advertise to a large
amount of people, this music magazine’s
aim is to advertise the music and artists
they feature to a large audience, like a
billboard. I think the target audience is
women aged between 16-30 who are
interested in mainstream media and
music. The central image is a close-up
shot of Beyoncé, this shot has been used
to draw the audience’s attention to her
face and serious facial expression. The
central image uses a direct mode of
address, which creates a personal
relationship between the magazine and
the reader. As Beyoncé is looking
straight at the audience it will make the
audience feel like they are being directly
addressed which would make them
engage more with the magazine. Beyoncé is a well-known singer and her being
pictured on the cover is used to draw in a larger audience, as Beyoncé has a huge
fanbase and is known worldwide, the magazine having her face on it appeals to
everyone that recognizes her. The anchorage text is “Beyoncé I want to be an icon”.
This tells us that Beyoncé wants to be known by everyone while giving her a positive
star image of being passionate and determined. Overall the artist is giving a serious
and personal message. Her facial expression is stern and emotionless, while her mouth
being slightly open and her top being sheer makes her seem vulnerable, this makes the
magazine more personal.
The buzzword ‘Plus’ makes the reader feel like they are getting exclusive content
which would make them want to buy the magazine. The title block is overall very
simplistic and professional, the font is simple and bold. But the different colours used
within the letters gives a unique twist, the different colours could represent the
different types of music and people the magazine is aimed at while the simple font
suggests the magazine is still very professional. The cover lines are all about well-
known artists which would appeal to the audience because it could be someone that
they are interested in. The colour palette is very limited, the main colours used are
black and white, there are bits of red in the coverlines which could be used to
highlight them on the page, the only other colour is in the title block. The colour
palette being limited adds to the simplicity of the magazine and gives it a professional
look. Black and white ae considered to be formal and elegant which could inform the
audience about how the magazine is. From the cover we can tell that the magazine is
about mainstream music, having Beyoncé as a cover model supports this, as she is a
widely known singer in mainstream media.